A CATHOLIC MP has accused his church of showing a "lack of understanding" over controversial embryo research.

Jim Devine, the Labour MP for Livingston, yesterday called for Cardinal Keith O'Brien to meet the scientists involved in the research after the churchman launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Gordon Brown over what he described as "monstrous" plans, which would allow for the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos for research purposes.

Devine said he has written to the cardinal calling on him to meet the scientists involved, and said he would be "happy" to set up a meeting between the leading Catholic and Dr Stephen Minger, the director of the stem cell biology laboratory at King's College London who has claimed the cardinal was "misrepresenting science".

Devine, who supports the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, said: "The statements attributed to the cardinal over the past few days highlight a lack of understanding of the process of stem cell biology."

Last week O'Brien, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, released an extract of a sermon he will use in his Easter Sunday homily today at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, which condemns the government for "not only permitting but encouraging such hideous practices".

Today, he is also calling on Brown to allow Labour MPs a free vote "as the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party have all done".

Supporters of the bill argue that the use of hybrid embryos could lead to cures for diseases including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's.

Devine said he knew of a man recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis who may be at St Mary's Cathedral when O'Brien gives his sermon.

He said: "Will the cardinal be able to look him in the eye and say, Not only can we do very little for you today, but the Church is going to ensure that tomorrow is the same'? I don't believe that is the Christian message for Easter."

There was support for O'Brien yesterday from Mario Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow, who said he has been "dismayed by the lack of engagement by MPs in this technically complex but morally crucial issue", and called on politicians to follow their conscience.

He said there were "grave concerns" that the government is attempting to force MPs to support the bill "at the cost of violating their own consciences".

"Such tactics are unworthy of a democratic society," he added.

Conti said he had written to every Scottish MP and has been "deeply disappointed at the lack of response", adding that the Bishop of Paisley, Philip Tartaglia, had written to Brown about the issue but "hadn't even had the courtesy of an acknowledgment".

"There is a very real frustration in the Catholic community that our deep concerns are not being taken seriously," Conti said. "The cardinal enjoys the support of all the bishops in laying down the stark choice that MPs face - to follow their conscience or follow party diktat."

And he went on to say: "It is disgraceful that MPs should be required to vote in favour of what they believe to be wrong. This is to violate one of the most basic human rights of all, that of freedom of conscience."

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill has once again raised questions over the ethics of the research, which will enable scientists to create inter-species hybrids by injecting human DNA into a hollowed-out animal egg cell.

Professor Hugh McLachlan, an expert in bioethics at Glasgow Caledonian University, argued that the embryo research did not fundamentally breach any ethical principle.

"To say things like it is against human dignity or against human rights, this is pure rhetoric," he said. "I can see no way in which my human dignity or human rights or anyone else's are in any way adversely affected by doing such research.

"It's an idea that people are squeamish about - indeed, I share the squeamishness - but I don't think that is sufficient reason for making the action a criminal offence. There is no human being harmed here."

McLachlan said laws which are introduced should be based on "good reason", and not because an issue is against someone's conscience. But he also said: "If MPs sincerely believe that some particular proposed law is an unwise law and against the best interests of the public, then they should vote against it, whatever the party says. I think the duty of MPs is towards their constituents and the country at large, not the party."

Geoff Hoon, the Labour chief whip, confirmed yesterday that he had received representations from some MPs who want the freedom to vote with their conscience on the bill.

Catholic members of the Cabinet - Welsh secretary Paul Murphy, transport secretary Ruth Kelly and defence secretary Des Browne, who is also the secretary of state for Scotland - are among those reported to be deeply unhappy with the bill.